Uruguay v Brazil: Copa América 2024 quarter-final – live | Copa América

40 min “In November 2005, Alvaro Recoba said that Uruguay had a ‘divine right’ to qualify for the World Cup,” says James Paraskevas. “They duly lost to Australia in a play off to get to the 2006 World Cup. I actually have no idea what this had to do with the game…I guess I am trying to say – GO URUGUAY!!!!!”

39 min The referee finally whips out his yellow card for the first time when Lucas Paqueta fouls de la Cruz. It was probably a booking but no worse than four or five earlier challenges.

38 min Rodrygo whacks the free-kick into the wall.

37 min Endrick pleads to the referee for justice after being fouled by Nandez 25 yards from goal. He’s been so impressive, one of the calmest players on the pitch.

36 min: Good save by Rochet! Seconds after that Nunez chance, Raphinha is put clear and has a shot that is well saved by the outrushing Rochet. Good goalkeeping, though maybe Raphinha could have done better, I’d like to see a replay.

35 min: Great chance for Nunez! That’s the best chance of the first half by a distance. Nandez pinged a fabulous cross from the right that beat Eder Militao and was headed over from six yards by Nunez. The ball was maybe slightly behind him, but he should have hit the target.

33 min: Uruguay substitution Araujo is replaced by the experienced Jose Maria Gimenez.

33 min Araujo’s game is over, probably his tournament too. He stretched to block a cross and jarred his leg when he landed.

31 min Now Ronald Araujo has a problem with his right hamstring, which won’t be so easy to run off. This would be a huge blow to Uruguay.

30 min Nandez goes down in a lot of pain after a clash of legs with Arana. He slams the ground, then looks pleadingly at the referee to ask what kind of world we’re living in. I’m not sure it was a foul by Arana, just a collision. Eventually the pain starts to subside and Nandez gets to his feet.

28 min An exceedingly dodgy backpass from Vina (I think) goes straight to Endrick in the Uruguay area. He decides not to shoot and instead tries to flick the ball across the area to give Raphinha an easier chance; Nandez comes across to make a desperate and vital clearance.

Looking at it again, Endrick should surely have hit that first time.

28 min “G’day Rob,” says Chris Paraskevas. “Hope you’re well / not resorting to intermittent self-applied electro-shock therapy to keep you awake during this month’s “Festival Of Footy” (…I’m at 24 hours and counting!)

“Pop Quiz for our readers out there… who has the lower xG/entertainment value:

1. England at Euro 2024

2. Brazil at Copa America 2024

3. Greece at Euro 2008

“Hint: it’s a trick question.”

26 min There’s a brief spark of excitement when de la Cruz’s free-kick ricochets around the Brazil area, but at least two Uruguay players were offside.

25 min The regular fouls have disrupted the flow of the first half, which so far has promised more than it has delivered. Still no yellow cards, which is a surprise. Joao Gomes could have received one a moment ago for a cynical foul on Pellistri.

22 min Endrick, who looks really sharp, knocks the ball one side of Araujo and runs round the other. Araujo catches up and shoves him over.

18 min De la Cruz’s corner from the right is headed away to Ugarte, 25 yards out. He mishits a volley into the ground that kicks up towards Nunez, whose header hits Eder Militao and goes not far wide.

The resulting corner is curled deep by de la Cruz and headed over Olivera. That wasn’t a bad chance.

18 min Pellistri skips past Arana and drives a low cross that is put behind by Marquinhos. There’s a bit of a scuffle before the corner is taken, sparked by Araujo gratuitously shoving Endrick over as he ran forward. Raphinha, his teammate at Barcelona, then gave him a shove.

The referee settles for a word with both players.

16 min “Both of these countries have proud barbecue traditions so the vigorous challenges can be viewed as meaty, beefy, or sizzling,” writes Peter Oh. “These two really like to get all up in each other’s grill.”

15 min Raphinha’s deep corner is punched away by Rochet.

14 min Bruno Guimares is fouled 30 yards from goal. Raphinha’s free-kick hits the top of the wall and spins behind for a corner, which he’ll take himself…

12 min No chances for either team yet, though Uruguay are having more of the ball. Militao is caught late by de la Cruz, who gets a warning from the referee.

9 min Ugarte puts his fellow No5, Bruno Guimaraes, on the floor. This may not end 11 v 11.

7 min The game is being played at a frantic pace, and there have already been one or two, a-hem, vigorous challenges. Lovers of sporting aggro may be in for a rewarding night.

6 min Ronald Araujo hoofs a crossfield pass straight out of play. What you gotta go do that for Ronnie?

3 min Endrick spins Olivera beautifully in the centre circle and is pulled back. He could have been booked for that.

3 min Uruguay have made a fast start, as expected, harassing Brazil all over the pitch.

2 min A reminder that there’s no extra-time in the quarter- and semi-finals. If the match is level after 90 minutes, it goes straight to penalties.

1 min Endrick has the first kick of what could be a cracking quarter-final. Brazil are kicking from left to right as we watch.

There’s a lovely pre-match embrace between Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa and Brazil winger Raphinha, who worked together so thrillingly at Leeds United.

“With Vini Junior suspended, the only number 7 on the pitch is Uruguay’s Nicolas de la Cruzm,” writes Peter Oh. “And there’s no 77 in sight to slot in for a Vegas-style 777. For what it’s worth, Araújo’s 20 beats Brazil in blackjack.”

Ten minutes to kick-off. Let’s have a reminder of the teams, shall we.

Uruguay (4-3-3) Rochet; Nandez, R Araujo, M Olivera, Vina; Valverde, Ugarte, de la Cruz; Pellistri, Nunez, M Araujo.
Substitutes: Mele, Israel, Olaza, Varela, Gimenez, Caceres, Marichal, De Arrascaeta, Bentancur, Rodriguez, Martinez, Suarez, Canobbio, Ocampo, C Olivera.

Brazil (4-3-3) Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Eder Militao, Arana; Joao Gomes, Bruno Guimaraes, Lucas Paqueta; Raphinha, Endrick, Rodrygo.
Substitutes: Rafael Monteiro, Bento, Wendell, Gabriel, Bremer, Yan Couto, Lucas Beraldo, Andreas Pereira, Douglas Luiz, Ederson Silva, Pepe, Evanilson, Martinelli, Savio.

Here’s an interview from last year with Endrick, the precocious teenager who starts up front for Brazil tonight.

“Late night again?” asks Joe Pearson. “Have you recently developed insomnia? This has the potential to be an absolute cracker!”

I quite enjoy doing overnight games, though they do come with the risk of falling asleep on the keyboooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

A fixture between Uruguay and Brazil evokes one match in particular: the Maracanazo. If you’re not familiar with the final game of the 1950 World Cup, it’s a helluva story.

The winners of this game will play Colombia in the semi-finals. They hammered Panama 5-0 in their quarter-final, with James Rodriguez again to the fore.

Brazil team news: Endrick starts

Uruguay team news

Rob will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s a quick preview of tonight’s game from Reuters:

Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa has urged his side to come out determined to gain the upper hand when they take on Brazil.

Uruguay, who won all three of their group matches and scored eight goals to finish top of Group C, will be hoping to progress to the semi-finals and the coach will be looking to implement his high-pressing attacking style against the Brazilians.

“Normally I focus on the sector of the pitch we play in, how we recover the ball, whether we threaten and how we threaten, and whether the way we build the attack is the style I want the team to play,” Bielsa told a news conference on Friday.

The coach also said that the suspended Vinicius Jr’s absence from the Brazil team won’t be a factor in their strategy, and described him as the best winger in the world.

“Personally, I don’t think his absence will affect us. Brazil are a country that has a lot of wingers at both ends of the pitch at the moment, and they play in big teams all over the world. Brazil’s replacement, Endrick, will not be easy to neutralise in Vinicius’ absence.”

Bielsa, who missed the 1-0 win over the United States after being suspended by Conmebol, added his absence was irrelevant as their opponents only threatened in the final 10 minutes: “If I had been on the pitch, the result would not have been any better.”